Album Review: Working Men’s Club by Working Men’s Club

Working Men’s Club is the self-titled debut album by the musical group of the same name, being released only within a year of their 2019 single, Bad Blood. Centered in Todmorden, England, the group’s chemical makeup is as follows: frontman Syd Minsky-Sargeant, Rob Graham, Mairead O’Connor, and bassist Liam Ogburn. The foundation of the group’s sound, originally set up by moody guitar work and new wave comparisons, has shifted into something more electric and colorful as the group wanders down different music genres and keeps what works for them.

Influenced by the feelings of a small town upbringing and the greyness that comes with the harsher northern winters, the album is open and direct about these emotions, echoing the frustrations of northern youths stuck in the dark. A tiny hometown breeds seclusion and a few hours of sunlight, but it can also offer up loads of room for creativity, as proven by the emotionally charged experiment that is Working Men’s Club. The idle qualities of the North and any bitterness that follows is shaped anew by the group’s industrial sound, and Minsky-Sargeant makes a conscious effort to say exactly what he means in every line.

This album is equal parts chaos and serenity, and the dynamic color palette created is easily enjoyed once it’s been digested. A personal favorite off Working Men’s Club is “A.A.A.A.”, aptly named for the frenzied shouts that make up the chorus. A track bustling with synthetic waves and the heavy use of a drum machine, the aggressively fun energy that courses through every beat is undeniable. “John Cooper Clarke”, third on the track list, echoes more of the post punk beginnings that Working Men’s Club exuded at first. Less chaotic and more drawn out, the song incorporates sharp, hypnotic guitar riffs in between lyrics contemplating our mortality. The group even dabbles in sounds reminiscent of psychedelic rock, as found in “Outside”, which also highlights the softer qualities of Minsky-Sargeant’s vocals.

Brilliant and uncompromising, Working Men’s Club is off to a fantastic start with this album as their personal introduction. Each track manages to hold its own thanks to the dynamic nature of the group who can’t seem to be anything other than entertaining. Armed with a distinct sound cultivated in a hometown much too small to contain their artistry, Working Men’s Club is an unwavering voice cut from the North that continues to speak out and demand attention.